Wednesday, 1 April 2020

Simple conversions

Ages ago I bought a shoebox full of plastic toy soldier guardsmen, many were made by the company Crescent. They have lain in the shed for some time. Here are examples of them, good plastic toy soldiers awaiting a purpose in their shoe box barracks


I eventually got a hand pin drill but lacking a vice found it hard going to get them to stay still as I drilled. An early attempt involved sellotaping to a chair leg but that was too clumsy. Yesterday I managed to perfect a primitive technique involving jamming them in the corner of a drawer as a vice 
and drilling out the necks having cut their heads off first. It worked but there must be a better way... 
Replacement heads were added,undercoat of pva applied and painting begun. They are an approximation of 1910 Danish/ Tradgardland Infantry, close enough to keep me happy if not the purist. I will post pictures of the finished twelve man unit. All in all an enjoyable hobby session.

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11 comments:

  1. Maudlin Jack Tar1 April 2020 at 07:44

    Lovely figures - they had nice big bases to stop the falling over so easily!
    A little desk mountable vice might do the job? (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-VC17-Pivoting-Multi-Angle-Capacity/dp/B000LFTOHY/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=modelling+vice&qid=1585723285&sr=8-5)

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    1. tradgardmastare1 April 2020 at 09:09

      I have just ordered one, thanks for the link. A tad safer and more sensible than the drawer!

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  2. The Good Soldier Svjek1 April 2020 at 10:18

    Ha Ha ! have used the jammed draw method as well !

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  3. Ross Mac rmacfa@gmail.com1 April 2020 at 12:00

    Yup vise beats drawer by a hair based on experience and dremel (or equiv) beats hand drill. On my list though is a push hand drill vs a twist drill like my old ones. I got a chance to use someone else's a few years ago and was surprised how much easier it was.

    Good to see these old friends. My very first set of guards (and we are talking maybe 5?) were some cheap fellows on oval bases with black hats and pants and that's it but these Crescent Guards followed a year or two later. They fell victim to my new teenage hobby of converting Toy soldiers into Model soldiers but bits of some of them are still floating around.

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  4. Mark, Man of TIN1 April 2020 at 13:28

    Spirited conversions, I look forward to seeing them painted up. Bonus - you still have a pile of useful busby heads for repairs and further conversions.

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    1. tradgardmastare2 April 2020 at 07:44

      I am keeping the busby heads, you just never know when they might come in handy...

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  5. tidders1 April 2020 at 14:30

    Neat conversions.

    I have a desk mountable vice if needed, I usually forget I have it till after I make a small hole in a finger with my hand drill - one reason I rarely use an electric drill for hobby work :)

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  6. tradgardmastare2 April 2020 at 07:45

    Thanks, vice is in the post. I am looking forward to seeing how much of a difference it makes...

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  7. zimbot383 April 2020 at 11:55

    So enjoy reading other modellers experiences. Must invest in this desk mounted vice. Thanks to Al you lead and plastic fanatix

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